Brachycome plant named ‘Nebbra 001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Brachycome  plant named ‘Nebbra 001’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large inflorescences positioned just above the foliage; dark purple-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Brachycome angustifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Nebbra 001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofBrachycome plant, botanically known as Brachycome angustifolia andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nebbra 001’.

The new Brachycome plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofBrachycome angustifolia ‘Billabong Mauve Delight’, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,899. The new Brachycome was discovered and selected bythe Inventor on a single plant from within a population of plants of‘Billabong Mauve Delight’ in a controlled greenhouse environment inMunster, Westfallen, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new Brachycome by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Munster, Westfallen, Germany has shown thatthe unique features of this new Brachycome are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Brachycome have not been observed under all. possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Nebbra 001’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Nebbra 001’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofBrachycome:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large inflorescences positioned just above the foliage.    -   5. Dark purple-colored ray florets.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Brachycome differ primarily from the mutation parent,‘Billabong Mauve Delight’, in flower color as plants of the newBrachycome have darker purple-colored ray florets than plants of‘Billabong Mauve Delight’.

Plants of the new Brachycome can also be compared to plants of theBrachycome angustifolia ‘Enduring Blue’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 20,582. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cranbourne,Victoria, Australia, plants of the new Brachycome differed from plantsof ‘Enduring Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Brachycome were more compact than plants of        ‘Enduring Blue’.    -   2. Plants of the new Brachycome had slightly thinner stems than        plants of ‘Enduring Blue’.    -   3. Plants of the new Brachycome had smaller leaves and        inflorescences than plants of ‘Enduring Blue’.    -   4. Plants of the new Brachycome and ‘Enduring Blue’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Enduring Blue’ had        lighter-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Brachycome, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Brachycome.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Nebbra 001’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of a typicalflowering stem of ‘Nebbra 001’ (left) and a typical flowering stem of‘Billabong Mauve Delight’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in containers in Cranbourne, Victoria,Australia, under commercial practice during the fall and winter in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 8° C.to 30° C., night temperatures ranging from 2° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels ranging from 1,000 lux to 9,000 lux. Plants were pinched aboutfour to six weeks after planting. Plants had been growing for threemonths when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Brachycome angustifolia ‘Nebbra 001’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Brachycome    angustifolia ‘Billabong Mauve Delight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.    No. 10,899.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 20 days at            temperatures of 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 30 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Thin, slightly fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded plant habit;            moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit            with numerous lateral branches developing after pinching.        -   Plant height.—About 10 cm to 20 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 30 cm to 60 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 2 cm to 6.5 cm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm to 15 mm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 137D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 1 cm to 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 5 mm to 15 mm.        -   Shape.—Oblong to spatulate.        -   Apex.—Acute to somewhat obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Three to five-lobed.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137B;            venation, close to 137B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single composite inflorescence form with ray and            disc florets. Inflorescences borne just above the foliage.            Freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences            developing per plant during the flowering period.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring through autumn            in Australia; flowering continuous during this period.            Plants begin flowering about four to eight weeks after            planting.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two to            three weeks on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Diameter:            About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Between 138B and            143B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter            of disc: About 4 mm to 8 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity/arrangement: About 16 to 25 in about            two whorls. Shape: Lanceolate, narrowly oblong. Apex:            Obcordate or retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Length: About 6 mm to 10 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm to 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Between 82A and 87A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 87A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 87A; color becoming closer to 82A with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 89D.        -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at center of receptacle.            Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five-pointed. Length: About            3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            immature: Close to 144A. Color, mature: Close to 12A.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: About 14 to 18            arranged in one to two whorls; bracts imbricate. Length:            About 2 mm to 3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex:            Acute to obtuse. Margin: Entire, fringed. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.2 cm to            5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Present on disc florets only.            Androecium: Filament length: Less than 1 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155D. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther shape:            Oblong to lanceolate. Pollen amount: Moderate. Gynoecium:            Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Style length: About 3 mm. Style            color: Close to 155D.        -   Seeds.—Seed set is nil to scarce on plants of the new            Brachycome. Quantity per inflorescence: None to about three.            Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Brachycome have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Brachycomes.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Brachycome have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −3° C. to about 44° C.

1. A new and distinct Brachycome plant named ‘Nebbra 001’ as illustrated and described. 